Page 6 of Monster's Maiden

Maya steps forward, her gaze fixed on a small alcove embedded in the wall. She reaches in and pulls out a tarnished metal object, its surface covered in more of those mysterious symbols. "Look at this."

Aiden peers over her shoulder. "Some kind of artifact?"

"Seems like it." Maya turns it over in her hands, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Think it’s valuable?"

"Probably," I say, feeling a thrill of discovery coursing through me. "But its true value might be in what it can tell us about who built this place."

Aiden nods toward a set of steps leading deeper into a dark opening. "Want to explore further?"

I hesitate for a moment, glancing back at the snowy forest behind us. The dae lies forgotten now, our task abandoned in favor of this newfound adventure.

"Yes," I decide, my voice firm with resolve. "Let’s see what else we can find."

Maya's eyes light up with excitement as she tucks the artifact into her pack. "Lead the way.”

Together, we venture into the shadowy entrance of the ruins. We descend the steps cautiously, each one taking us further from the world we know and deeper into the unknown.

"Watch your step," Aiden warns as he steadies me when I slip on a loose stone.

"Thanks," I murmur.

The air inside the ruins feels heavy with dust and age, but my excitement grows with each step forward. Each footfall echoes against the ancient stone walls, amplifying the sense of mystery that clings to this place. The carvings become more intricate, depicting scenes of battles and rituals that speak of a once-thriving civilization now lost to time.

"These glyphs," Maya murmurs, running her fingers over a particularly elaborate design. "They seem to tell a story."

"Maybe they do," I reply, my eyes scanning the walls for more clues. "A story we can uncover."

Aiden chuckles, but there's an edge of awe in his voice. "You always did have a knack for finding hidden things."

"That's why you keep me around," I tease, though my focus remains on the carvings. "This place is incredible."

Maya's eyes sparkle with curiosity as she moves deeper into the ruins. "Do you think anyone's been here before us?"

"Hard to say," I answer, noting the thick layer of dust and undisturbed cobwebs. "But it feels like we're the first in a long time."

We continue our exploration, our voices hushed in reverence for the history around us. The air grows colder as we venture further in, the temperature drop adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Look at this," Maya says, pointing to a series of small alcoves set into the walls. Each one holds a different artifact—ornate weapons, delicate jewelry, and strange objects whose purpose we can only guess at.

"Treasure trove," Aiden remarks with a grin.

"More like an archive," I counter, fascinated by the sheer variety of items. "These things were important to whoever these beings were. Dark elves, maybe?"

Maya shrugs as she carefully picks up a small dagger adorned with precious stones. "Imagine what stories these could tell."

"Imagine what we could learn," I add, my mind racing with possibilities.

Aiden's hand hovers over an ornate amulet encrusted with deep red gems. His eyes gleam with curiosity, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

"Think it's cursed?" he asks, a note of challenge in his voice.

"Don't even joke about that," Maya warns, but her tone lacks conviction.

"Only one way to find out," he says, reaching out before I can stop him.

"Aiden, wait?—"

His finger brushes the amulet. The contact is brief, almost hesitant, but it is enough.

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